Questions and Answers

A little information on my chosen products and why we use them

Our methods and ethos

WHY USE NATURAL

As explained above, under the heading of ‘Phthalates’ we do not use anything chemical or synthetic to alter the thickness of our shampoos and conditioners. An excessively thick and ‘gloopy’ product does not function well and thickness does not aid efficacy. To give our products a pleasing consistency, we use Glyceryl Oleate and Sorbitan Sesquicaprylate, both naturally derived from the coconut palm and completely safe and non-irritant.

In our Conditioner we use Esterquats that are naturally derived from a vegetable and renewable source. These are safe, mild and fully biodegradable. All of our products are completely free from Silicones. None of our products contain Palm Oils or Animal Fats.

PEG’s stands for Polyethylene Glycol and are synthetic chemical thickeners, often added to products that do not contain sulfates to thicken them and again, give the illusion that as the product is thicker,it is ‘better’ and more concentrated. Alas the opposite is actually true. Cheap, dangerous thickeners, thicken but detract, rather than add to quality. The National Toxicology Program has revealed that PEG’s cause uterine and breast cancers and leukemia and brain cancer. These chemicals are added to your and your pets’ shampoo and interestingly to both brake fluid and caustic spray-on oven cleaner!

To our combination of Soybean oil and Aloe Vera, we have added Cocamidopropyl Betaine, a mild and safe surfactant derived from coconut oil. Cocamidopropyl Betaine naturally boosts foam and improves viscosity, feel and texture. It also has antistatic and antiseptic qualities.

WildWash shampoos are specifically designed not to over lather. They thoroughly cleanse the skin and coat but rinse out quickly and easily, leaving no residue or build up behind. The coat is squeaky clean with nothing to dull clippers and scissors and we have found that drying time is cut by about 25%.

Sulfates leak into water and can cause harm to the environment whilst high levels of Sulfates in drinking water can cause diarrhoea, which can be particularly severe in babies and young children. Sulfates released into the air can cause irritation of the lungs and studies have shown that Sulfates are quickly absorped into organs causing toxicity and cancers and can find their way into the eyes and causing cataracts. The skin is the largest organ in the body and can quickly absorb these chemicals through the skin and into the blood stream. Sulfates are notoriously difficult to rinse from the coat and hair and leave a residue which can irritate the skin and blunt clippers, scissors and and blades. Many top human hair manufacturers including L’Oreal are now going ‘Sulfate free’.

WildWash uses NO Synthetic or Semi-Synthetic Fragrances whatsoever. We use only 100% Natural Pure Essential Oils, which make up a total of 1.5% of our product. Our essential oils impart a beautiful, natural and absolutely safe aroma to our fragrances and shampoos.
All of our products are 100% completely and absolutely free from Petrochemicals of any kind and can be used safely in the knowledge that they will not harm ourselves: our pets, or our environment.

The use of Petrochemicals in both human personal care products and pet care products including perfumes, cosmetics and shampoos is ringing loud alarm bells and causing great concern throughout the World.
Petrochemicals are a by-product of the petroleum industry: they come from crude oil and the same ingredients are used in perfumes and personal care products and shampoos for both humans and pets as are also used in metal cutting fluid!
Many of the chemicals used to formulate certain aromas are actually petrochemicals. It is estimated that 95% of the synthetic fragrances on the market today are derived from petroleum by-products. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes and may other known toxins and sensitizers, which are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions.
Petrochemicals contain cancer-causing contaminants known as carcinogens. They are like many of the other ingredients in synthetic fragrance in that they build in the body over time. Repeated exposure has been linked to endocrine disruption and several other types of cancer.They can leak into waste water systems and have recently been linked to sperm damage in men and hyperactivity in children.
1,4-Dioxane is one of the deadliest petroleum-derived carcinogenic compounds and is a by product of the process by which sodium lauryl sulfate becomes sodium laureth sulfate, a surfactant (or foam maker) used in many, many pet and also human hair shampoos.
Petrochemicals are used so commonly and indiscriminately in synthetic perfumes and personal care products because they are CHEAP!

The base for all our shampoos and conditioners is made from nutrient rich soybean oil, a natural, non-greasy conditioning agent and protector for hair and skin. The anti-irritating properties of the phospholipids found in soybean soothes itching and nourishes, reinforcing skin barrier function. They promote hair growth, adding strength and shine and their film forming properties cover and smooth cuticle scales and eliminate static.

These were developed just after World War II when chemically, man made products started to take the place of natural ones. Phosphates were cheap and plentiful and replaced the use of soap in detergents. They are still extensively used today and particularly in products advertised as ‘soap free’. Phosphates will not break down in wastewater processing systems. They will leak into water bodies, growing algae and decreasing the oxygen needed to promote healthy aquatic life, and pollute streams, lakes, rivers and ponds.

We use biodegradable, natural thickeners/emollients from renewable and sustainable sources, such as Glyceryl Oleate found in almonds, olive oil, peanut oil and pecan oil and tea seed oil. We have also added Lauryl Glucoside a very gentle surfactant made from coconut oil and sugars, proven to have virtually nil level of skin irritability, to give our shampoos a pleasing, but not ‘gloopy’ consistency. All our shampoos dilute genuinely to 32-1. Overly thick products usually contain chemical thickeners, which merely give the illusion of concentration but in reality produce a weak, sticky product. Our shampoos and cosmetics contain an unusually high proportion of Pure Essential Oils (1.5%) so their beautiful depth of fragrance naturally lasts and lasts without chemical intervention.

Phthalates are used extensively in shampoos, body washes etc. as gelling agents, to make the product appear thicker and more concentrated. They are also used to make scents and fragrances in products last longer. They can also cause birth defects and interfere with male fertility by reducing sperm count and interfering with sperm motility.

Protecting WildWash products from infection from bacteria and fungi our preservation system contains Poly Epsilon-Lysine, a derivative of the tomato plant and also used in Japan as a food preservative. Phenoxyethanol adds to our preservation, which is found in the botanical world, stabilizing for example, cranberries, cinnamon, prunes and apples.

Parabens are chemicals used in the shampoo and cosmetic industry as preservatives. These including Methylparaben, Ethylparaben and Butylparaben amongst others can harm healthy by contributing to the development of cancerous tumours. Some parabens mimic the activity of the hormone oestrogen and are turning up as evidence in breast tumours.

‘Natural’ can be defined as something that exists and evolved as part of an ecosystem, which works in harmony with other members of that system so that plants, animals and microbes can co-exist happily. WildWash products engage with our natural abundance of flora and botanicals and intelligently and honestly utilise their natural, healing and enriching properties to work perfectly with your pet’s sensitive skin.
Our shampoos and products contain absolutely NO Parabens, Phthalates, Phosphates, Petrochemicals, Sulfates or PEG’s.

Just like human skin and hair, a dog’s skin and coat responds better when a natural product is used. Natural products promote a healthy, hydrated skin and coat, whereas shampoos containing chemicals can cause dry itchy, scaly skin with poor hair quality, lacking moisture and shine.
Also, we should remember that dogs and cats are not able to shampoo themselves! Any product used on our pets also comes into contact with our skin. The damage that cheap chemically made pet shampoos can be evidenced by looking at the professionals, i.e. dog groomers and bathers who will wash up to 12 dogs a day. Many, many groomers suffer from red, sore, cracked hands and mild or moderate to severe dermatitis. We promise that in 100% of cases these ailments will clear up completely or show a marked improvement when WildWash shampoo is used.

Whilst damage to groomers’ hands is just one of the symptoms of external trauma caused to ourselves by chemical shampoos, the toxins commonly found in many pet shampoos can also cause many serious internal problems. They can pass through our skin, into our blood stream and can harm unborn babies, impair fertility and cause cancer.
Chemically, man made products upset the fragile balance of our world and cause disruption, damage and pollution to our environment to ourselves and to our pets. We guarantee that WildWash products are safe to use for your family, your pets and the world in which you live.